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GERRY MODDEJONGE, QMI Agency

Jun 7, 2011

, Last Updated: 8:33 PM ET

EDMONTON - There is something a little loco about bringing Cliff Washburn to the Edmonton Eskimos.

While it was no accident the offensive tackle has been reunited with head coach Kavis Reed and general manager Eric Tillman from the championship run with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2007, Washburn also has connections with a fellow Eskimos offensive lineman.

In fact, he is in direct competition for the lone import O-line spot with current left tackle Jeremy Parquet.

The two both won a championship at different times with the UFL’s Las Vegas Locos, as well as won one together in NFL Europe.

“He’s a good friend. Me and Parquet, we played in Hamburg, Germany, together,” said Washburn. “We actually won a championship there. I was playing offence half of the season and playing defence the other half of the season, which is a different story. But we won a World Bowl there.”

While the Sea Devils were the last team to win the World Bowl in 2007 before NFL Europe folded, Parquet was picked up in North America by the Pittsburgh Steelers, who went on to win the Super Bowl the following year. Then, in 2009, Parquet completed the trifecta by winning the inaugural UFL championship with Las Vegas.

“He was there the first year that they were actually a team,” said Washburn, who climbed aboard the Locomotives to repeat the feat in 2010, after Parquet left for Edmonton. “The team was great.”

And now they’re back together again in Edmonton. Small world.

“Football, it gets smaller every year,” said Washburn. “The guys that stick around and keep playing year after year, you go to a new team, you’re always going to see people you know.”

It never hurts when one of those people is your new team’s head coach.

“I know Kavis pretty well and that’s one of the major reasons I came up here,” said Washburn. “I’ve been with him in Toronto and been with him in Saskatchewan.”

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Camp notes

Day 3

Who's hot?

Not seeming to have missed a step from last year’s all-star nomination, DB Chris Thompson continued his ball-hawking ways by knocking down an otherwise sure catch from promising rookie wide out Nate Coehoorn.

Who's not?

It was a rough morning for running backs Tuesday. Arkee Whitlock went in motion only to botch a snap to Ricky Ray from Kyle Koch, who is centering for the injured Aaron Fiacconi. A couple of plays later, Daniel Porter messed up a run so badly that head coach Kavis Reed had to take his hat off to yell at his player properly.

Big play

The DB with the last name so nice, you’ve got to say it twice, Wopamo Osaisai, climbed the ladder to intercept a Marc Mueller pass to the end zone intended for Youssy Pierre.

Big catch

Bouncing back from a morale-destructing performance Monday, SB Chris Bauman came up with the nicest catch in camp so far, coming up with a one-handed snag in the end zone from Mueller.

In and out

C Gord Hinse (broken thumb) was absent, while SB Brad Smith (ankle) was not in pads. DB Delroy Clarke (undisclosed) is expected to be out for five days. K Damon Duval, DT Chunky Adams, OT Cliff Washburn and WR Taye Biddle took part in their first practice Tuesday morning.

Audible

“I’m close with my mom, but if she’s not good enough she’s not going to be here.”

— Head coach Kavis Reed, on his relationship with some players

Next up

One session set for Wednesday at Clarke Park from 8:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.